The tanks are additional to a further 17 already at the facility which collect water from the 1.7 hectare roof over the cattle yards. The Saleyards now have the capacity to collect and hold on site 1.1 megalitres of water.
The new tanks will substantially increase the saleyards capacity to harvest rainwater to use in day to day operations including the operation of the truck wash. The truck wash facility is open 24/7 and can use large volumes of water. By using rainwater the truck wash is more environmentally friendly with the added bonus that it can continue when water restrictions may occur.
Greater Shepparton City Council Manager Strategic Assets, Mike Freeman, said the installation of the water tanks make the saleyards facility a lot more self-sufficient. “During a severe drought a few years ago the truck wash was one of a few left operating in Victoria. It is very important that trucks are able to wash out the manure from the trucks, otherwise they are spilling manure onto the roads which is hazardous to other road users and to general public health,” said Mr Freeman.
“At the time it was decided we needed to have tank water in order to keep the truck wash operating, even during times of drought. This has led to the installation of the 26 tanks to date and the commissioning of a bore at the saleyards.”
Mr Freeman said the installation of the tanks has seen a decrease in the amount of potable water being used at the yards which will continue to decrease into the future. “If we were using the same amount of water as five years ago with the steady increase in charges, our bills would be substantially more.”
The water is also used for watering the animals and minimal washing down of the sheep yards.
In addition to the installation of the rainwater tanks, Council has also repaired the truck crossover which was severely degraded and full of potholes. “The crossover from New Dookie Road into the truck wash takes a hammering from the number of truck movements which led to failure of the kerb and channel and bad potholing which was unsafe for heavy trucks to navigate through,” said Mr Freeman. “The new cross over is reinforced to withstand the weight and volume of trucks without failure into the future”.
